Sonoma County, California
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Sonoma County is a county located on California's Pacific coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of 2000 it had a population of 458,614. The county seat is Santa Rosa.
Sonoma County is world-famous as a wine producing region, with several distinct growing areas producing a wide variety of wines.
Sonoma County is the home of Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College.
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History
Sonoma County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.
Sonoma is a Coast Miwok Indian name translated by some as "Valley of the Moon" and by others as "land or tribe of the Chief Nose."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,580 km² (1,768 mi²). 4,082 km² (1,576 mi²) of it is land and 498 km² (192 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.88% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 458,614 people, 172,403 households, and 112,406 families residing in the county. The population density is 112/km² (291/mi²). There are 183,153 housing units at an average density of 45/km² (116/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 81.60% White, 1.42% Black or African American, 1.18% Native American, 3.07% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 8.44% from other races, and 4.09% from two or more races. 17.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 172,403 households out of which 31.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% are married couples living together, 10.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% are non-families. 25.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.60 and the average family size is 3.12.
In the county the population is spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $53,076, and the median income for a family is $61,921. Males have a median income of $42,035 versus $32,022 for females. The per capita income for the county is $25,724. 8.10% of the population and 4.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.40% of those under the age of 18 and 5.70% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
Incorporated cities
Unincorporated towns
Sonoma County winemaking
Winemaking -- both the growing of the grapes and their vinting -- are an important part of the economic and cultural life of Sonoma County. In 2004, growers harvested 165,783 short tons (150,396 tonnes) of wine grapes worth $310 million. About 80% of non-pasture agricultural land in the county is for growing wine grapes—59,973 acres (242.70 km²) of vineyards, with over 1100 growers. The most common varieties planted are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir, though the area is also known for its Merlot and Zinfandel.
Sonoma County is home to 191 wineries and 11 distinct (and 2 shared) American Viticultural Areas, including the Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, and Dry Creek Valley (the last famed for its production of high-quality Zinfandel).
Film locations
Sonoma County has served as a location for many major films, including (courtesy of oldmovies.com (http://www.oldmovies.com/)):
<--broken down by locale so that someone can move these to the corresponding locale's page-->
Bodega Bay
See: Bodega Bay page
Cloverdale
- Many Rivers to Cross (1955) Shot near Cloverdale.
- So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) Scenes shot at Cloverdale Airport (others at Alcatraz and S.F.).
Cotati
- The Farmer's Daughter (1947) Shot in Penngrove and Cotati.
- The Flatliners (1990) Shot in Cotati, and also Los Angeles, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
Glen Ellen
- Shoot the Moon (1982) Shot in Glen Ellen and Jack London's Wolf House, both in Sonoma County (with additional shooting in Marin Co).
Occidental
- Nowhere to Run (1993) Shot on Coleman Valley Road, Sonoma County, Occidental, with farmhouse and pond scenes.
Penngrove
- The Farmer's Daughter (1947) Shot in Penngrove and Cotati.
Petaluma
See: Petaluma page
Rohnert Park
- Basic Instinct (1992) 3 day shoot in Petaluma and Rohnert Park, with other scenes in Carmel and S.F.
Russian River
- Salomy Jane (1914) While there are one or two shots taken along the Russian River near Monte Rio in Sonoma, it was mostly filmed in Marin, with the background to almost every scene the unmistakable Mount Tamalpais.
- Braveheart (1925) Story about Indians, with many shots taken along the Russian River.
- Holiday Inn (1942) Exterior shots of the Village Inn Lodge in Monte Rio on the Russian River, dressed with tons of fake snow, was the "Holiday Inn" lodge setting.
Sebastopol
- Thieves' Highway (1949) Shot on Gold Ridge Road, Sebastopol.
- Smooth Talk (1985) Locations include Sebastopol, the Gravenstein Highway and Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa
See: Santa Rosa page
Sonoma
- Magic of Lassie (1978) Shot at Hop Kiln Winery, Sonoma.
Sonoma County (general)
- Bronco Billy Anderson (1915) The only one of Anderson's 400 short westerns that has been identified as have been made in Sonoma County.
- The Third Day (1965)
- Images (1972-U.S-British) Filmed mostly in Ireland.
- Heroes (1977)
- Mr. Billion (1977)
- Impulse (1984) Farm sequences filmed in Petaluma.
- Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) Locations: Sonoma, Mount Tamalpais (Marin) and other Bay Area sites: Paramount Theatre, Oakland, San Bruno Malt Shop, S.F., and San Rafael.
- Nowhere to Run (1993) Shot on Coleman Valley Road, Sonoma County, Occidental, with farmhouse and pond scenes.
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
- Bandits (2001) Shot at the Flamingo Hotel and country roads around Sonoma County. One scene features a Clover milk truck featuring Clo the cow, a local icon.
Interesting places to visit
Sonoma county has a very beautiful coast line, alternating with cliffs and beaches.
- Sonoma County Beaches
- Goat Rock Beach The Russian River joins the Pacific Ocean at this beach.
- Sonoma County Regional Parks (http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/)
- Sonoma Lake recreational area
- Bodega Bay
- Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in Santa Rosa *
- Fort Ross, former Russian fur trade outpost *
- Jack London Home, Beauty Ranch, in Glen Ellen *
- Petaluma Adobe, Petaluma *
- Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma *
See also
External links
- Sonoma County official website (http://www.sonoma-county.org)
- Russian River website (http://www.russianriver.com/sonomacounty.htm)
- Bodega Bay website (http://www.bodegabay.com/index.shtml)
- Luther Burbank Home and Gardens (http://www.parks.sonoma.net/burbank.html)
- Sonoma Coast State Beach official website (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451)
- Parks and Recreation in Sonoma County (http://www.parks.sonoma.net/)
- Sonoma County Local History and Genealogy Library (http://www.sonomalibrary.org/history.html)
